Healing Through Conversation and Connection

Healing Through Conversation and Connection

By Mark and MelisSociety & CultureMental HealthPersonal Journals
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Healing Through Conversation and Connection episodes

  • Healing Thru-Hiking

    This episode, Mark and Melis, talk to Janey and Kenneth (aka Burn Unit and Bam) about their epic adventures on the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail.

    Topics discussed:

    1. What prompted them to do their first thru-hike
    2. How they met <3
    3. The preparation for the CDT
    4. What kind of gear/clothes/food they took
    5. A typical day of hiking
    6. Wildlife encounters!
    7. Other memerable experiences
    8. The best and hardest things about being in the wilderness for 4-6 months
    9. How it changes your worldview/priorities
    10. Nature facilitating deep healing from trauma and addiction

      11. Links mentioned in this episode:

      • https://www.instagram.com/pocketofpsychadelia/
      • https://www.instagram.com/misadventuresofmarknmelis/

        • This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

        1 hr 20 min
      • Climbing Mount Everest

        This week, Mark and Melis talk to Jason Weiss about summiting Mount Everest.

        "You never conquer a mountain. Mountains cannot be conquered. You conquer yourself." – Jim Whitaker

        Topics discussed:

        1. Inspiration for photography and climbing
        2. Tipping point to create a life of passion and leave a life of security
        3. Processing grief
        4. Climbing Mount Everest: the training, the climb, the summit, the comedown
        5. Bringing the lessons from the mountains into everyday life
        6. Nature as a healing force

          7. Links mentioned in this episode:

          • https://www.jasonweissphotography.com/
          • https://www.instagram.com/jasonweissphotography/
          • https://evokeendurance.com/

            • This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

            1 hr 18 min
          • We Love Our National Parks!

            This episode, we reminence about our five months on the road, in which we let go of the life we had to experience true freedom. When the oncologist told Mark that his cancer was terminal and there were no viable treatments, we decided to quit our jobs, sell the house, buy an RV, and head out on the adventure of a lifetime.

            Topics discussed:

            1. Update on NPS and how to help save our parks
            2. Favorite Parks in general, for hiking, and for scenery
            3. Best Parks for camping, kids, and dogs
            4. Most underated
            5. Wildlife encounters
            6. Scariest and funniest times
            7. What we learned about ourselves and how we are integrating that into our lives
            8. How we are doing
            9. Where to next

              10. Links mentioned in this episode:

              • https://www.nationalparks.org/
              • https://www.nps.gov/
              • https://www.instagram.com/misadventuresofmarknmelis/

                • This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

                2 hr 19 min
              • Empowering Our Health Through Ayurveda

                This week, Mark and Melissa invite Richard Powell, Doctor of Ayurveda, to discuss accessing your optimal health through the science and wisdom of the world's oldest medical system

                Topics discussed:

                1. What is Ayurveda and how is it different from Western medicine?
                2. Helping you achieve greater health, peace, and purpose
                3. Using Ayurveda to heal the body with cancer.
                4. Simple ways to bring the basics of Ayuveda into your life.

                  5. Links mentioned in this episode:

                  • Richard's website https://www.richardgpowell.com/
                  • To be on email newsletter list, scroll to the bottom of this page https://www.richardgpowell.com/contact1
                  • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/homa.healing/
                  • Youtube www.youtube.com/@homa.healing

                    • This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

                    1 hr 17 min
                  • The Suicide Awareness Bus and Spirit House

                    If you are feeling suicidal, call 911. If you need to talk, call 988 for crisis hotline

                    This week, Melissa and Mark welcome Cory and the Suicide Awareness Bus talk about Mental Wellness and Suicide Awareness. Cory and his wife travel the country in the most artistically decorated bus that is a traveling memorial for lost loved ones.

                    Trigger Warnings:

                    Suicide, assault, rape, domestic violence, miscarraige

                    Topics discussed:

                    1. Suicide Awareness
                    2. PTSD in Public Safety and Military
                    3. Stop the stigma
                    4. How to get help

                      5. Links mentioned in this episode:

                      https://www.facebook.com/groups/280859390592075/
                      https://988lifeline.org/promote-national-suicide-prevention-month/
                      https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-suicide-awareness-bus-arrives-in-temple/ar-BB1jbVLE

                      This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

                      1 hr 13 min
                    5. New Beginnings

                      This week, Mark and Melis talk about what it's like to walk away from their jobs, house, family, and community to embark on a wild adventure across the country in a 24' Winnebago motorhome. They banter about what has been the most challenging and most rewarding about being on the road.

                      Topics discussed:

                      1. Letting go
                      2. Living on the road
                      3. National Parks

                        4. Links mentioned in this episode:

                        https://www.instagram.com/misadventuresofmarknmelis/
                        Youtube channel

                        This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

                        1 hr 2 min
                      4. Letting Go

                        This week, join an intimate coversation between Mark and Melis about their journeys of letting go.

                        Topics discussed:

                        1. Update on our status
                        2. Letting go of our lives as we know them.
                        3. How to know what to let go of to allow space for new adventure and joy.
                        4. What has been hard but necessary to let go of.
                        5. What it means to surrender and live in the present.

                          6. Links mentioned in this episode:

                          https://wecandohardthingspodcast.com/
                          https://beherenownetwork.com/category/ram-dass/

                          In the spirit of letting go, this podcast is raw and uncut with no editing.

                          This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

                          59 min
                        6. Taking Yoga off the Mat

                          This week,Melissa and Mark talk with Larry Terkel about integrating yoga into everyday life. Larry shares his personal story of how he came to yoga and redefined his life. He shares practical advice on how to incorporate the practice into family life, business, and fitness. Larry has practiced for over 50 years and honors us with some of the wisdom he gained along the way. Check out his Facebook page for 5 minute videos about yoga and meditation, his personal experiences, and views about this wild life.

                          Topics discussed:

                          1. How Larry started his yoga journey.
                          2. Going to the source; practicing in India.
                          3. Bringing yoga to family.
                          4. Definitions of Darshan, Asana, Satsang, and other "Larryisms."
                          5. Yoga as a lifestyle.

                            6. Links mentioned in this episode:

                            Spiritual Life Society (aka Main Street Yoga)
                            Larry's Facebook
                            Larry's Website

                            This podcast made possible by Standing Rock Media

                            This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

                            1 hr 20 min
                          6. Learning to Love Yourself

                            This week, Melissa and Mark welcome Kelly Hambly to discuss the journey to loving oneself. Tune in to this heart-filled conversation between friends about transmuting challenge into growth, letting go of what no longer serves, and learning to love ourselves, even the very worse parts.

                            Topics discussed:

                            1. What healing in action looks like and some tools to explore.
                            2. Being at peace with being alone and adapting to living transitions.
                            3. How to stay connected.
                            4. Becoming your own partner.
                            5. Sobriety and self-medication.

                              6. Teachers mentioned in this episode:

                              1. Ram Dass, in particular, the film "Becoming Nobody."
                              2. Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein both have loving-kindness meditations and podcasts.

                                3. Links mentioned in this episode:

                                Kelly's Insta
                                Kelly's Substack
                                Mark and Melis's Insta
                                For free supportive services for people living with cancer and their families, check out Stewart's Caring Place.

                                This podcast made possible by Standing Rock Media

                                This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

                                1 hr 9 min
                              3. Cultivating Healthy Relationships

                                This week, Melissa and Mark get personal and talk about the evolution of their relationship and the lessons they have learned together.

                                Topics discussed: (Trigger warning: domestic violence, sexuality, divorce)

                                We started by answering a couple questions from listeners:

                                1. What is the key to a long-lasting relationship?
                                2. How do you get over arguments?
                                3. How do you have a relationship with someone that has different views?
                                  4. Then, we dove into the top 10:
                                4. Appreciation
                                5. Trust
                                6. Affection
                                7. Sense of Humor
                                8. Honesty
                                9. Making the relationship a priority
                                10. Radical acceptance
                                11. Allowing for each other's autonomy
                                12. Growth mindset
                                13. Shared vision

                                  14. This podcast was made possible by @standingrockmedia and is hosted by ZenCast.fm

                                  1 hr 11 min

                                About Healing Through Conversation and Connection

                                From the publisher's feed

                                Healing Through Conversation and Connection empowers people to share their stories and perspectives. We aim to connect to people from different walks of life and gain insight on how we can help "walk…